100-year-old Great Grandmother Survives Cancer 5 Times

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Defying all odds, Ellen McDonald, from Leeds, England, a spirited great grandmother, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, has emerged a winner after successfully battling cancer on five different occasions.

Mrs McDonald said, I've had it tough with the old cancer, five times it has tried to take me in total but I've managed to fight it off."

McDonalds life fraught with cancer
Ellens troubles with cancer began in the early 1950s, when a tumor was detected in her breast. She underwent a double mastectomy only to be diagnosed with a malignancy in her gallbladder a few years later.

Ellen fought the gallbladder cancer by getting the organ surgically removed. In addition, she underwent another procedure to remove cancer that had spread to other parts of her body.

However, in 1963 Ellen found out that she had developed bowel cancer.

Although she underwent surgery to remove the tumor of the bowel, the oncologists treating her had thrown in the towel, saying that her chances of survival were slim.

McDonald disclosed, Ive had a double mastectomy, a hysterectomy from my fifth bout, I've had my gall bladder removed and I survived bowel cancer.

"After one operation I woke and the surgeon told me that the operation was over but wasn't sure if I would pull through because those procedures weren't as common back then.

"I can remember a priest was in the room standing over me and he was reading passages from the Bible and there was somebody else there who was crying.

"But I told them I am a fighter and I managed to pull through. I made it through because of my fighting spirit and the skill of the surgeons who performed the operations to remove the areas where the cancer had struck."

Secret of long life
Apart from that difficult phase in her life nearly five decades ago, Ellen is alive and kicking and in amazing good health.

She lives in a sheltered accommodation and keeps active by participating in a club for senior citizens.

The secret of long life she credits to hard work and an occasional glass of wine.

Ellen stated, "My advice for a longer life would be to work hard to keep your body active. I scrubbed floors on my hands and knees for a shilling an hour for 26 years, hard work keeps you going I think.

"I still do a bit of shopping and like to get out. I do the dusting, I look after my own meals and do the washing up at the sink. I have a bit of help with the heavy stuff though.

"It is nice to live this long but to be honest the spring in my step went a couple of years ago. I think when I was about 96 I felt different but I still feel good for my age.

"I don't think there is a secret to a long life its just fate, but I know more and more people are living to 100. My cousin is 107."

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